Sunday, 11 January 2009
Atmospheric Aerosol Chemistry in the Arctic: Results from the 2008 International Polar Year (IPY) ICEALOT Experiment
Phoenix Convention Center
The 2008 International Polar Year ICEALOT experiment documented anthropogenic and natural aerosol components of arctic haze across the North Atlantic. Aerosol type and concentration are identified from fifty-two submicron and supermicron air filter samples that were taken during a two-month research cruise on the National Science Foundation R.V Knorr. Seven types of aerosols impacted the filters. Anthropogenic aerosols include ammonium, non-sea-salt sulfate, nitrate, and elemental carbon; the only natural aerosol is sea salt. The remaining two aerosols types, particulate organic matter and inorganic oxidized material , originate from both anthropogenic and natural sources. Three categories of filter samples exist based on their origin; the Long Island Sound, the North Atlantic, and the Arctic. A relationship between aerosol components in the Long Island Sound and the Arctic samples suggests similar air mass composition in both regions. Transport of continental air masses into the Arctic is evident by the presence of inorganic oxidized material in the Arctic samples. Category comparisons between aerosol type and concentration strengthen previously defined notions of Arctic haze.
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